[Nfbnet-members-list] 2, 900 Delegates to National Federation of the Blind Convention Unanimously Reject Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization

Freeh, Jessica JFreeh at nfb.org
Thu Jul 7 13:58:18 UTC 2011



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org

2,900 Delegates to National Federation of the Blind Convention 
Unanimously Reject Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization

Bill Would Endorse Exploitation of Disabled Workers

Orlando, Florida (July 7, 2011): The National Federation of the Blind 
at its national convention today voted unanimously to demand fair 
wages for blind workers.  The convention is being attended by 2,800 
delegates from across the United States and Puerto Rico.  On 
Wednesday, July 13, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 
Committee will vote on the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which 
contains language reauthorizing the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as 
amended.   The Rehabilitation Act is supposed to provide services to 
disabled Americans so that they can obtain competitive employment, 
but Title V, Section 511 of the proposed Rehabilitation Act language 
references Section 14(c) of the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 
which allows certain entities holding special wage certificates to 
pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, 
said: "Language endorsing the antiquated practice of paying the blind 
and other workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum 
wage, which is based on the fallacious premise that disabled workers 
cannot be productive and do the same work as their non-disabled 
peers, has no place in legislation designed to increase competitive 
work opportunities for workers with disabilities.  We believe that 
this language, in effect if not by design, is a Trojan Horse 
provision that will inevitably lead to the placing of workers with 
disabilities in subminimum-wage sweatshops.  We demand that the 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee either amend this 
bill to remove Title V, Section 511, or simply vote down the entire bill."


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About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind 
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind 
people in the United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives 
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs 
encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading 
force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's 
blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the 
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in 
the United States for the blind led by the blind.





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